In December, the whole town takes on a Christmas mood.
Christmas decorations can be seen all around Kurashiki City.
It is a major event that many people look forward to, but decorations and activities have only been organized by individual households and businesses.
Surprisingly, there have been few opportunities for everyone to enjoy Christmas together.
This year (2023), for the first time, an event bringing together shops and people will be held in Kurashiki.
It is a two-day-only market called “Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023.”
The event was initiated by cabin attendant Ichikawa Namiko, who is seconded from an airline to the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau, a public interest incorporated association.
We asked Ichikawa about the details of this first-ever event for Kurashiki and the ideas behind it.
The information in this article was accurate when it was published in December 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023?
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 is Kurashiki’s first Christmas market.
A Christmas market is a traditional European festival that originated in Germany and Austria and has continued since the Middle Ages.
Traditional sweets, hot wine, and miscellaneous goods are sold at stalls, while illuminations brighten the venue.
In Japan, they seem to have become popular in major cities such as Yokohama and Tokyo.
Event Overview
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 will bring together distinctive shops from Kurashiki and Okayama.
Food and drink vendors, florists, and shops selling miscellaneous goods will set up stalls.
Workshops will also be held.
| Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023: Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, 2023; held rain or shine |
| Hours | 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. (last orders at 8:30 p.m.) |
| Venue | Kurashiki Ivy Square (Courtyard Plaza and Ivy Gakkan) |
| Admission | Free |
The event runs from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., so you can enjoy Kurashiki’s streets at night, too.
Food vendors are scheduled to line Courtyard Plaza at Kurashiki Ivy Square.
In Europe, stalls line the squares, so this can truly be called Kurashiki’s version of a Christmas market.
Ivy Gakkan will host shops offering workshops and selling miscellaneous goods.
Food stalls will also be set up inside Ivy Gakkan, so it might be nice to buy plenty of food and enjoy a leisurely meal.
Participating Shops
Here are the participating shops.
| Shop | Participating Friday the 15th | Participating Saturday the 16th |
|---|---|---|
| ICHI | ○ | ○ |
| Fujiwara Jitsudo | ○ | ○ |
| Udon and Sake Fujigokoro | ○ | ○ |
| Gratefuls | ○ | ○ |
| Coq au pain | ○ | |
| Moon grace | ○ | ○ |
| Rural Capri Farm | ○ | ○ |
| Kurashiki Afternoon Tea Executive Committee | ○ | ○ |
| Kurashiki Ivy Square Pub Aka Renga | ○ | ○ |
| Tabi no Kusuribako | ○ | ○ |
| Shokutaku note | ○ | ○ |
| Cafe Haruta | ○ | |
| FLAGO | ○ | ○ |
| Peche Luna | ○ | ○ |
| Itokichi | ○ | ○ |
| TRATTORIA noi | ○ | |
| Chuka Soba Kota | ○ | |
| belk bakes | ○ | ○ |
| NGL | ○ | |
| pile | ○ | ○ |
| Curry and Coffee Shop 774 | ○ | ○ |
| GRAPE SHIP | ○ | ○ |
| Rulu | ○ | ○ |
| Seribe | ○ | ○ |
| coffee&more Scarecrow | ○ | ○ |
| Soil and Wind Botanical Garden | ○ | ○ |
| TONERICO | ○ | ○ |
| Kurashiki Canvas | ○ | ○ |
| MARUGO Tabi no Kura | ○ | |
| Kurashiki Women's Collection | ○ | ○ |
| hori hori | ○ | ○ |
| Fortune Teller slan | ○ | ○ |
The event is organized by the Kurashiki Christmas Market Executive Committee, made up of several companies and led by the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau.
Shops from Kurashiki and Okayama will set up stalls.
Be sure to check them out, as some rarely participate in markets.
Christmas-themed food and services prepared especially for Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 will be available.
For example, NGL (a joint shop by LITTLE LIGHTS and GJG ESPRESSO STORE) will sell traditional Christmas-season cakes such as stollen and apple pie, as well as coffee sets.
Coq au pain will sell roast chicken, a Christmas classic.
Hot wine will be served by GRAPE SHIP and Moon grace.
There’s also a hashtag campaign
The official Instagram account for Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 is running a hashtag campaign.
Details on how to participate are as follows:
- Follow the Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 account, @kurashiki_xmas
- Post a photo of the event on Instagram with the hashtag “#KurashikiChristmasMarket2023”
- Winners will be selected by lottery to receive discount vouchers or products redeemable at participating shops
The campaign runs from Friday, December 15 to Monday, December 25, 2023. Take lots of photos and share them!
A venue and decorations unique to Kurashiki
The venue is Kurashiki Ivy Square, known for its brick buildings and ivy.
Originally the headquarters factory of Kurashiki Spinning Works (now KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD.), it was converted into a complex in 1974 by architect Shizutaro Urabe.
The buildings are made of brick, recreating the design of British factories.
The ivy growing over the brick walls was planted to regulate the temperature. In summer, its leaves grow thick, softening the direct sunlight coming through the windows and helping to lower the indoor temperature.
The grounds also feature Western-style buildings and a fountain, making it feel just like Europe.
A giant metasequoia tree towers beside the Western-style building and fountain.
It was apparently planted as a sapling in 1957.
Taking in the atmosphere and buildings of Kurashiki Ivy Square may make the event even more enjoyable.
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023, the first Christmas market in Kurashiki.
We spoke with event organizer Ichikawa Namiko and Maeoka Michinobu of the Kurashiki Tourism and Convention Bureau, who is in charge of Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023.
Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 Information
| Name | Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 |
|---|---|
| Date | December 15 (Fri) and 16 (Sat), 2023 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. (last order 8:30 p.m.) |
| Location | 7-2 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Website | Kurashiki Christmas Market 2023 |
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